Anything Silly
Superhero Day
Announce that it is officially 'Superhero Day'. Your child should choose what kind of superhero he or she wants to be. Make decisions together about the superhero's costume and superpower. Create a story together about your superhero and his life. Find household props and dress-up clothes to create your child's superhero right in your very home!(read more)
Dressing Mommy
My child's preschool puts on an annual Mother's Day Tea and every year there are always a few moms who come dressed in outfits specially chosen by their child. What a wonderful (and brave!) way to listen to your child's opinion! So, if you've ever struggled with your little one over their outfits, it could be fun to turn the tables for once and ask your child what ...(read more)
More Fun with "Old MacDonald"
After we've exhausted all of the animals we can think of while singing "Old MacDonald," we add tractors, crops (such as apples or tomatoes), puddles or ponds, etc. and stretch our creativity thinking of sounds to go with them. The kids love coming up with silly sounds to go along with all of the different things.(read more)
Ad-libbing Song Lyrics
Start by singing a favorite song with your child that he or she knows well. Second verse: change the lyrics to include either your child, your pet, or something in the immediate environment. Get your child contributing their own made-up lyrics--it will really get them giggling! (read more)
Fingerpaint/Bodypaint
On a nice sunny day, let your kids strip down to a diaper or undies/swimsuit and let them fingerpaint outside. Have paper ready, but you can also let them paint on your kiddie table or let them paint themselves. My kids painted their whole bodies and all our kids toys outside. Then when we were done, they helped hose down all the toys and ran through the ...(read more)
Wacky Whatever-Day
Read the Dr. Seuss book Wacky Wednesday with your child, and then create your own silly scenarios around the house. Place items that are out of place around the room, such as a shoe upon the desk or tape a sock to the wall. Your kids will love finding the silliness in the room!!(read more)
Point and Shoot: Digital Photography for the Preschool Set
While waiting for the doctor, toddlers get pretty bored. I found that bringing my digital camera (or phone) in and having my son take pictures of my funny faces, or having him pose with funny faces, helped the time go by more quickly. Short videos of him singing his favorite songs was also a big hit. No more worrying about him spinning out of control on the doctor's stool, or ...(read more)
Night, Night! Wake Up!
Grab some blankets and pillows and show your toddler or preschooler how to go "night night" on the floor. Kids of this age love to act out going to sleep, complete with blankets and snoring. Enjoy a few moments of repose, and then say, "Wake up!" and sit up with your child. Repeat endlessly! (read more)
Silly Rule Day
Change up your weekend routine by designating one day "Silly Rule Day." The idea is simple: make up a silly rule and do your best to enforce it all day. For example, "before leaving the room clap your hands 3 times," or "instead of saying thank you, say lollipop." The sillier the rule, the better. You can even write on a piece of paper and tape ...(read more)
Marshmallow Fun
At a birthday party or special event, this game is sure to be a hit. Get a bag of marshmallows, some string, a safety pin, and a whipped cream, like Cool Whip. Take the string and cut about a 2 foot piece. Put a knot at the end, and at the opposite end place the safety pin. Take the end with the safety pin and run it through the middle ...(read more)
Heel, Toe Races
When it's dreary out, my kids and I have heel toe races down the hallway. Walk down the hallway on your heels as fast as you can then turn around and walk back on your toes. Your kids will crack up watching you walk on your heels. It's great fun and stretches out the Achilles which helps kids who tend to walk only on their toes.(read more)
What's Different?
This a great game to play with a group. My daughter plays it at her preschool and it always gets everyone laughing, adults too! Have everyone sit in a circle. One person is chosen to leave the room (they'll need an adult to help). That person then changes as much as they can about their appearance - the zanier you make it the better. Untuck their ...(read more)
Create your own Superhero
Is your little one a fan of Batman, Superman or any other Superfriend? Add some individuality by helping your child create her own superhero. What would her name and super power be? How would her costume look? Draw a picture of your child's superhero, or help your child write a story. (read more)
Create Your Own Songs
Bring out the songwriter in your child. Choose a simple tune you know well (i.e. "Jingle Bells" or "Mary Had a Little Lamb") and make up new words to the song. The songs don't have to make sense or be "good"; this is just about having fun and singing! You can choose a theme like encouraging rhyming skills or phonics (i.e. make a song up with ...(read more)
Wacky Day
On a day when you plan to stay home, have everyone put together the wildest, wackiest outfits they can find and wear them all day. Pair some striped pants or crazy skirt with sneakers or flip flops and a Tiara. Everyone needs to join in. Choose a new 'character' name and be someone different for the day! Don't forget to take pictures! (read more)
Monster Day
Tell your children that today is "monster day," and they get to be any kind of monsters they want. Have them go through the dress-up box, their drawers, or the rag pile and put together a monster outfit. Anything goes! Use Halloween makeup, eye shadow and lipstick, homemade face paint, or washable magic markers to draw on monster faces. Get their input. Do they want spots or stripes? ...(read more)
Mr. and Mrs. Chin
This is a hilarious and very wacky activity to do with older children. Paint a simple upside-down face on your child's chin using makeup, body paint, or anything washable. The eyes should be at the bottom of your child's chin, with the nose above (between the eyes and your child's mouth). No need to draw a mouth - your child's real mouth works perfectly - but do ...(read more)
Advertisement
Because a Great Book Makes You Laugh
Before we had kids, we might have said that the best sound in the world was waves crashing. Or a champagne cork popping. Nothing against the ocean or a bottle of bubbly, but now we know for sure: the best sound
Take Our Expert Quiz
how is your toddler or preschooler progressing developmentally?
Advertisement